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When Toddlers Bite ... Their Nails
Tips on Breaking the Nail-biting Habit
By Amy Henry
Stopping the Habit
Research shows that nail biting tends to peak in adolescence and then drop off sharply. Only 5 percent of adults bite their nails. But if the thought of enduring a decade of nibbled nails makes you want to scream, try these ideas:
- Distraction. When your child goes into nibble mode, suggest a hands-on activity you can share. Ask him to help you make lunch. Work on a puzzle together. Get out the colored chalk and draw on the driveway. Turn on the music and dance. Or sing songs. No one can sing and bite their nails at the same time.
- Substitution. Similar in principle to distraction, this solution works well when the child is confined in some way. For car trips and shopping expeditions, pack a cache of small toys, perfect for fidgety fingers. Let the child choose them and switch up items often. Keep a basket of these "substitutes" near the TV,
too, but avoid making an issue out of it if the child ignores or refuses the bait. Pressing the point can backfire, creating a cycle where the child becomes anxious and resorts to more nail biting.
- Make a deal. Tailor-made for a parent who shares the nail biting habit, this is the solution that worked for Jeri's daughter. "We explained that germs could get into your body by getting on your hands and then into your mouth if you put your hands in your mouth," Jeri says. "This kind of grossed my daughter out. So my husband suggested they quit together." Dad and daughter compared their progress each night at bedtime. Within a few weeks, both had kicked the habit. "She seemed to like the idea of having a project with her dad," Jeri adds.